CROSBY NETS TWO MORE POINTS, BUT CANADA FALLS TO SWEDEN

Sweden held off Canada, 5-4, Saturday in the World Championship semifinals in Latvia.

The victory gives Sweden, which won gold at the Winter Olympics in Torino, a chance to become the first country to claim an Olympic gold medal and an IIHF World Championship gold medal in the same year.

On Sunday, Sweden will meet the Czech Republic for the championship, while Canada and Finland battle for bronze.

Crosby, the Penguins’ 18-year-old superstar scored a goal and added an assist for Canada. He has scored at least one point in all eight of Team Canada’s games. He now leads the tournament in goals (8), assists (8) and points (16).

Crosby is on pace to become the youngest scoring champion in the World Championship’s 52-year history.

After scoring his goal in the second period to bring Canada within 5-3, Crosby was run into following the play by Sweden’s Mike Hannula. Crosby took a hard check to the jaw and crumpled to the ice. He left for the locker room and Hannula was given a match penalty.

Unfazed, Crosby returned in the third period to set up Patrice Bergeron’s goal to slice the deficit to 5-4. Sweden held on, however, for the triumph.

Czech Republic 3, Finland 1

David Vyborny, Jaroslav Hlinka and Tomas Plekanec all scored goals to lead the Czechs to the victory.